Our two classes have just completed the Whikoi Mo Te Reo (27th June) which was a day in which we celebrate the Maori New Year and encourage and promote Te Reo Maori amongst local schools. We started with a march through the mainstreet to the marae Te Tokanganui-a-noho. After the powhiri from a huge contingent of kaumatua, schools and kohanga reo presented items. Speeches were given by a number of students from schools including Te Kuiti Primary, Piopio Primary, Aria Primary, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Oparure and Te Kura Rautau (us!). It was a real pleasure to hear from a tiny school (eight students), Whareorino, for their first time. Kohanga reo presented items, song and drama, around the theme of Matariki. Following lunch, students went back to the wharenui to do mass waiata.Our MC for the day, Layelin Joseph, did an excellent job entertaining, encouraging and cajolling our tamariki.Organisers for occasion were Hirere Moana (Principal, TKKM o Oparure), Peter Holbrooke (Kaiarahi Reo, Aria Primary), Rauora Rauputu (Piopio Primary), Anapere Waugh (Deputy Principal, Te Kura Rautau), Taupuru Newth (Kaiako, Te Kura Rautau), Roimata Wipaki (Kapa haka tutor, Te Kuiti Primary).Our thanks to the Maori wardens, Te Kuiti Highschool students (Rawiri Stephens) and local police in their assistance in keeping our students safe, particularly during the march. Thanks also to Oti Poa who organised the marae and the kaumatua in his absence. It has to be said that the sheer number of kaumatua on the paepae that morning was heart warming and overwhelming, a real tribute to the day.The speakers for our school were Ngamira Kopa who spoke about his Nanna Muri, and Wiremu James-Barrett who spoke about his Nanna Norah. Both boys worked hard writing, editing and preparing their speeches. They stood proudly, spoke clearly without cue cards and gave a clear picture of their affection for their kuia. Wiremu's speech about his Nanna, who passed away just over a year ago, and was a well known personality on the marae, brought tears to the eyes of many. This indeed was a sure indication of the power of his korero! Well done to these two senior boys for representing our school and making us all proud.
21-08-08Staff are beginning to get organised for the bienniel Maniapoto Primary Schools' Maori Culture Festival which our school hosts. Entries are coming in steadily from schools interested in performing or observing on the day. Put the 14th of November in your diary to come along to the Waitomo Cultural and Arts Centre to observe various schools' skills (involving hundreds of students from Kawhia to Aria) in the performing arts.
25-11-08 Festival was a success with TKP, Pukenui, Aria, Piopio, Kawhia, TKKM o Oparure and our senior and junior teams performing. Click on link to read a report by a 12 year old student about the Festival
Te Reo Syndicate
Our two classes have just completed the Whikoi Mo Te Reo (27th June) which was a day in which we celebrate the Maori New Year and encourage and promote Te Reo Maori amongst local schools. We started with a march through the mainstreet to the marae Te Tokanganui-a-noho. After the powhiri from a huge contingent of kaumatua, schools and kohanga reo presented items. Speeches were given by a number of students from schools including Te Kuiti Primary, Piopio Primary, Aria Primary, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Oparure and Te Kura Rautau (us!). It was a real pleasure to hear from a tiny school (eight students), Whareorino, for their first time. Kohanga reo presented items, song and drama, around the theme of Matariki. Following lunch, students went back to the wharenui to do mass waiata.Our MC for the day, Layelin Joseph, did an excellent job entertaining, encouraging and cajolling our tamariki.Organisers for occasion were Hirere Moana (Principal, TKKM o Oparure), Peter Holbrooke (Kaiarahi Reo, Aria Primary), Rauora Rauputu (Piopio Primary), Anapere Waugh (Deputy Principal, Te Kura Rautau), Taupuru Newth (Kaiako, Te Kura Rautau), Roimata Wipaki (Kapa haka tutor, Te Kuiti Primary).Our thanks to the Maori wardens, Te Kuiti Highschool students (Rawiri Stephens) and local police in their assistance in keeping our students safe, particularly during the march. Thanks also to Oti Poa who organised the marae and the kaumatua in his absence. It has to be said that the sheer number of kaumatua on the paepae that morning was heart warming and overwhelming, a real tribute to the day.The speakers for our school were Ngamira Kopa who spoke about his Nanna Muri, and Wiremu James-Barrett who spoke about his Nanna Norah. Both boys worked hard writing, editing and preparing their speeches. They stood proudly, spoke clearly without cue cards and gave a clear picture of their affection for their kuia. Wiremu's speech about his Nanna, who passed away just over a year ago, and was a well known personality on the marae, brought tears to the eyes of many. This indeed was a sure indication of the power of his korero! Well done to these two senior boys for representing our school and making us all proud.
21-08-08Staff are beginning to get organised for the bienniel Maniapoto Primary Schools' Maori Culture Festival which our school hosts. Entries are coming in steadily from schools interested in performing or observing on the day. Put the 14th of November in your diary to come along to the Waitomo Cultural and Arts Centre to observe various schools' skills (involving hundreds of students from Kawhia to Aria) in the performing arts.
25-11-08 Festival was a success with TKP, Pukenui, Aria, Piopio, Kawhia, TKKM o Oparure and our senior and junior teams performing. Click on link to read a report by a 12 year old student about the Festival
What Makes the Maniapoto Primary Schools-Wiremu.docThe next link gives a report from the organiser (A Waugh) regarding the Festival
Report for Maniapoto Primary Schools.doc